Politial hopeful lobbies Stanton

Tue April 15, 2014 02:59pm

Editor's note: Candidate Carlos Vazquez is pictured third from left.

With the June 3 statewide primary election fewer than three months away, politics are heating up.

Saturday, Carlos Vazquez held a meet and greet meeting at the Northwest Orange County Republican Headquarters, 11296 Beach Blvd., in Stanton. He is a candidate for the 46th Congressional District that is currently held by Democrat Loretta Sanchez and includes Anaheim and Santa Ana.

From 2003 to 2013 the 46th District covered Westminster, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach.

Vazquez thanked those in attendance and then addressed the "Freedom of the American Dream."

He said he's running to look for practical solutions for, "Our children's future. It's not really about me," he said.

As a Cuban immigrant, Vazquez said he and his family came to America in the 1950s when Fidel Castro was introducing Communism.

"A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating a society where all property is publicly owned."

Vazquez shared that his father was put in prison in Cuba. "This is what happens when your freedoms are stripped away," he said. "But we have a Constitution in America that guides our country-- and we are now losing our freedoms."

He said the nation needs leaders who will advocate the American Dream and someone to tell the youth about that American Dream.

"The goal of my campaign is to tell the young people about the American Dream and I want to know when I tuck my 3-year-old daughter in bed at night that I can promise her that dream," said Vazquez.

"Doing 'nothing' is doing something. We need to get our liberties back; we can no longer be silent; we have been silent too long," he said. "There are no challenges too big for the voice of the people."

Vazquez, who earned his degree in psychology, also studied the Constitution for three months with Steve Jackson, who teaches the U.S. Constitution in North Orange County.

"Carlos took my course for three months and understands the Constitution. How many people really understand the Constitution?" he asked.

"When anyone is sworn into any office, they pledge to serve the people. hold them accountable," Vazquez said.

"Vote smart and hold your elected officials accountable. Ask less of 'What are you going to do for me at the Federal level' and ask, 'What are you going to 'undo' to make things better,'" said Jackson.

Also Saturday, at the Northwest Orange County Republican Headquarters, Michelle Steel, who is vying for the Orange County Supervisor 2nd District position, along with her committee members, met and started walking partisan and non-partisan precincts.

"Volunteers will walk to 50 to 100 homes in four hours and knock on doors, handing out materials to spread the word that, we think it's important for people in the community to know what we stand for," said volunteer David Shawver. "We prefer to do community visits because we believe people respect candidates more when you talk to them in person.Po